Tuesday

The intro to “Thunderstruck” by ACDC welcomed the players’ arrival for another intense day of preparation.

Rogel got a running start, whistling and sprinting down the hill onto the football field. Once he reached the field, Rogel grabbed a football and ran it as if he were a running back, but he was met at midfield by Wells, who squared his shoulders and lightly bumped his head coach.

“Let’s go!” Rogel shouted at his team to line up and begin stretching.

As the players warmed up, Rogel jumped up and down to the music, begging his players to bring energy to practice. As each player passed during calisthenics, Rogel hopped on both legs, slapping the hands of his players.

Rogel sent his players to push the sled after, and once the team drove the sled up and down the field, Rogel urged his team to display more energy.

“Let’s go, give me a circle,” said Rogel, hollering so the players could hear him over the PA speakers that blared “Sail” by AWOLNATION.

“Cade and Cortez (Adams) get us started right,” Rogel said. “We’re dead right now. Get us right.”

Wells and Adams fired off from a three-point stance on Rogel’s whistle and fought to see which player could get the other to the ground first. Pairs alternated while Rogel shouted encouragement and continuously blew his whistle.

After fighting in the trenches for 15 minutes, Rogel blew his final whistle to signal a water break. A drenched Rogel, who might have gotten more of a workout than his players with all of the jumping around, wiped the sweat from his ‘brow.

Wednesday

Less contact was enforced on Wednesday. Instead, Rogel used the day to cover special teams, as well as tweaks to the scheme against Centreville.

Following the practice, Rogel gathered his group and took them to see a 7:10 p.m. showing of “When the Game Stands Tall” at the Natchez Mall.

When the movie completed, Rogel addressed his team from their movie seats.

“You have to play for the guy that’s next to you,” said Rogel, in a speech that stressed team and family first.

Thursday

The varsity players lucked out on Thursday, practicing for 30 minutes after school before heading to a Trinity softball game to support their fellow students. Meanwhile, Rogel traveled with the junior varsity players to play Riverfield.

Rogel had a long night ahead of him, especially with the way his junior varsity team would play against Riverfield, falling 42-8 in the contest.

After the contest, Rogel watched Trinity’s game film against University Academy before climbing into bed and going to sleep.

“I always watch our previous game the night before, trying to view the way the opposing coach will,” said Rogel, hoping to wakeup to a victory the next day.